Alumni

Dr. Julius Tumusiime 

Julius Tumusiime was a PhD candidate from 2019 to 2024. His research focused on the dynamics of host snail species and their associated Schistosoma and Fasciola infections, with an emphasis on evaluating the citizen science model in Uganda’s Lake Albert region. He currently serves as an assistant lecturer at Mbarara University of Science and Technology and is also a postdoctoral researcher in the second phase of ATRAP.

Dr. Maxson Kenneth Anyolitho

IMaxson Kenneth Anyolitho was a PhD candidate from 2019 to 2024. His work focused on community-led approaches to the prevention and control of schistosomiasis, providing a sociological analysis of the citizen science model in selected communities of western Uganda. He currently serves as the head of the department (community health) and a lecturer at Lira University. He is also a postdoctoral researcher in the second phase of ATRAP.

Dr. Mercy Gloria Ashepet 

Mercy Gloria Ashepet was a PhD candidate from 2019 to 2024. Her work focused on the factors shaping the implementation of citizen science in low and middle-income countries. She currently serves as a postdoctoral researcher in the second phase of ATRAP and works with the International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis as a consultant.

Dr.  Jean Debéthel Bitumba

Jean Debéthel Bitumba obtained his doctoraat in anthropology at the University of Kinshasa, in partnership with KU Leuven and the Royal Museum for Central Africa. His thesis focused on interspecies cohabitation and the fight against schistosomiasis. His focus is on the collaboration between medical knowledge and local (endogenous) knowledge in the fight against epidemics.

Ms. Daisy Namirembe

Daisy Namirembe was an MSc student from 2019 to 2021 in the Biology department of MUST. Her research focused on assessing the risk of cross-infection with liver flukes and schistosomes between livestock and wild mammals in Western Uganda. She served as the administrative assistant for the ATRAP project from 2021 to 2023, supporting project coordination and implementation activities.

Ms. Faith Mugabi

Faith Mugabi was an MSc candidate from 2019 to 2022 in the department of human development at MUST. Her research explored community perceptions of gender roles as a predisposing factor for schistosomiasis infection in Southwestern Uganda. 

Ms.Chantal Makoko

Chantal Mokoko was a master's student at the Catholic University of Congo (UCC), between 2021 and 2024. Her thesis focused on exploring participatory communication strategies in the fight against schistosomiasis, with a particular emphasis on the citizen science approach in the Kimpese health zone in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She is currently continuing her studies as a pre-doctoral student in the second phase of the ATRAP project.

Ms. Jay Mulmi

Jay Mulmi Master’s thesis titled "Collecting Snails and Producing Data?" was supported by ATRAP. In 2022, she conducted anthropological research on ATRAP citizen scientists in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), examining the adaptations required to effectively implement citizen science within the specific sociocultural and logistical context of the country. She is currently pursuing a PhD in the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology at KU Leuven.

Ms. Larissa Bonifacio

Larissa Bonifacio was an MSc candidate from 2022 to 2023, graduating with a Master in Sustainable Development (Ecology) from KU Leuven. Her master's research focused on modelling the spatial distribution of aquatic snail vectors of schistosomiasis and fascioliasis in the DRC. She is currently affiliated with the Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), where she applies geospatial techniques to analyze aquatic plastic pollution.

Mr. Chan Kin Ho

Kin Ho Chan’s master’s thesis explored how deep learning object detection can automate the identification and counting of freshwater snails - key intermediate hosts of schistosome parasites. Kin utilized approximately 2,500 field images collected by the ATRAP citizen scientists for his thesis.

Ms. Yara Carolina Fernandez Valdez

Yara Carolina Fernandez Valdez graduated with an MSc in Sustainable Development (Ecology) at KU Leuven in 2025. Her research assessed the community acceptance and stakeholder support for Plant-based snail control along Lake Albert’s Southern Shoreline, Uganda. ATRAP is exploring the development of a plant-based soap to control schsitosomiasis but community and stakeholder pereceptions are important.
 

Mr. Maxwell Mhlanga

IMaxwell graduated with an MSc in Sustainable Development (Space and Society) at KU Leuven in 2025. His research which focused on evaluating the impact of citizen science initiatives on local health systems in Uganda, was supported by ATRAP.